Sven Berg: How you can help the homeless, others in need

That means people in the Treasure Valley, like all over the United States, are looking for ways to help people who drew a bad hand in life and ended up homeless or in unstable housing situations.

The valley's most visible and talked-about population of homeless people is in Boise, just to the right of the Connector as you come into Downtown. That camp used be located underneath the Connector's bridge over 16th and15th streets, but a renovation of the skate park there has pushed them into the alleys behind Corpus Christi and Sanctuary, both shelters.

The debate over what to do about homelessness in Boise will go on for years, but if you want to help people right now — or if you need help — here's a list of local organizations that serve the homeless and others in need.